Apparatus and method for viewing multiple underlying indicia

ABSTRACT

A promotional or novelty piece wherein a printed planar surface is provided with a translucent lenticular surface, placed in registration with a second planar surface with predetermined indicia applied so as to underlie and register with said translucent surface. The angle of the viewer&#39;s eye with said translucent surface allows said underlying indicia and secondary interlaced indicia having been applied to the underside of said lenticular lens, to be selectively and individually observed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Novelty pieces utilizing lenticular lenses and multiple interlaced art to create movement or a 3 dimensional view are well known as a low cost prize or trade stimulator in the prior art. Additionally, they may be found in direct mail, merchandising and advertising pieces. In the prior art, mass mailings soliciting credit card business have contained a sample card with the addressee's name imprinted on same. This type of promotional piece is relatively expensive to produce. The present invention provides the same, if not improved, impact by utilizing a generic card and printing the addressee's name on secondary underlying indicia, which could be conventionally printed on paper or similar stock, or printed in a personalized manner using contemporary printing technology on the same stock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a novelty piece which has a changeable display, where upon viewing it at one angle a generic message or graphic is displayed and viewing it at a second angle allows a message or graphic printed on an underlying surface to be displayed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for providing a novelty or promotional piece that can be specifically directed to the recipient in a personal manner at a far lower cost than has been previously available.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a novelty piece with a top surface having a translucent lenticular lens portion and a second surface having a personalized or unique message or graphic, which underlies said translucent portion. Additionally, a generic message or graphic can be applied to the underside of the top surface in an interlaced manner corresponding to the lenticular lens.

The forestated construction will function whereby when changing the angle of view, the subtended view will change between the personalized message and the generic message or graphic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a viewer observing a generic interlaced graphic applied to the underside of a lenticular lens.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a viewer observing a message underlying the lenticular lens.

FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 but here depicting the viewer looking upward at the interlaced segment of a generic graphic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a viewer 15 is looking at the translucent, lenticular portion 10 of the first or top planar element 2. At the subtended angle of view shown here, the viewer only sees the indicia 3 that has been applied to the backside of the lenticular portion 10 in an interlaced manner so as to produce this result. Alternatively, the lenticular portion could be bonded over the indicia rather than applying same to the underside of the lenticular portion.

In FIG. 2 the viewer 15 is viewing the lenticular portion 10 from a different angle of view, here shown as perpendicular, which permits the indicia 6, applied to planar element 1 to be exclusively viewed.

In FIG. 3, an additional viewing angle is shown which can be utilized to also display additional underlying indicia 6, or as in this example, additional interlaced indicia segments 4 applied to the backside of the lenticular portion 10.

In the event that the viewing of additional personalized indicia or generic options are desired, it would be well within the scope of the present invention to provide a lenticular viewing portion with additional or less interlaced sections, so as to provide the capability of viewing a selective number of generic and personalized indicia.

It is contemplated that the material utilized to fabricate the within novelty or merchandising device will be any conventional planar material such as plastic or paper.

Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. For example, although specific embodiments have been described in detail, those with skill in the art will understand that the preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to incorporate various types of substitute and or additional or alternative materials, relative arrangement of elements, and dimensional configurations. Accordingly, even though only few variations of the present invention are described herein, it is to be understood that the practice of such additional modifications and variations and the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A merchandising or promotional piece comprising: i. a first planar member having at least a portion thereof defining a translucent lenticular lens. ii. Indicia applied to the underside of said first planar member with a portion thereof underlying said translucent lenticular lens, interlaced and in registration therewith wherby a viewer of said lenticular lens portion will see at least two distinct images depending on the angle of view with at least one of said images being clear. iii. A second planar member underlying said first member with indicia applied thereto, underlying said lenticular lens portion and in registration therewith whereby at least one viewing angle of said lenticular lens portion displays said indicia.
 2. The merchandising or promotional piece of claim 1 wherein said second planar member is paper based stock affixed to the underside of said first planar member.
 3. The merchandising or promotional piece of claim 1 wherein said second planar member is plastic based stock affixed to the underside of said first planar member.
 4. A method of providing a quantity of promotional or merchandising pieces that present a customized appearance to individual recipients comprising; i. providing a first planar surface having a portion thereof defining a lenticular lens; ii. providing indicia applied to the underside of said first planar surface with the portion thereof underlying said lenticular lens being interlaced and in registration therewith whereby a viewer of said lenticular lens will see at least two distinct images depending on the angle of view with at least a portion of one said images being translucent. iii. providing a second surface having a portion thereof in registration with said portion of said first surface defining a lenticular lens; iv. providing indicia on said second surface underlying said lenticular lens and viewable through at least a portion of thereof; v. providing interlaced indicia on the underside of said lenticular lens and positioned so that the segments thereof are in registration with selected lenticules of said lenticular lens whereby a viewing of said lens will separately display at least one said interlaced indicia and, the indicia applied to said second surface. 